Harry Potter

The Aftermath

Chapter 12

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April 12, 2023

There had been no sighting of Sirius Black in two weeks and the Ministry was getting antsy when Marie returned from her 'Holiday' she was picked up outside her house and taken to the Ministry for questioning.

"Where have you been?" Amelia Bones asked curiously as she sat across from Marie.

"Quite frankly that is none of your business, but since I'm here I was on holiday at the beach. Why am I here anyway?" Marie asked irritated as she looked at Mrs. Bones.

"We are curious about your location over the past couple of weeks." Mrs. Bones said as she laced her fingers together on the table separating them.

"I'm popular I see. Am I a person of interest in something? Do you have proof I've done something?" Marie asked curiously, tilting her head slightly to the side.

"No and no, we just wanted to ask you a few questions." Mrs. Bones said as she leaned back in her seat.

"Then get on with it blast you I want to get home." Marie said as she crossed her arms and legs angrily as she sat back in her chair.

"Where is Sirius Black?" Mrs. Bones asked curiously.

"How would I know? Can't you capture a weakened man? I mean being in Azkaban for twelve years without a wand or proper food would weaken anyone. The magical law enforcement unit has defiantly gone downhill." Marie said arrogantly as she raised an eyebrow at the head of the Department of Law Enforcement.

"We've not seen him in over two weeks, just about the same amount of time we've not seen you. Seems convenient." Mrs. Bones said as she crossed her arms as well mirroring Marie's body language.

"Coincidence I assure you." Marie said as she just stared at Mrs. Bones knowing if she looked away that would be an admission of guilt in the Ministries eyes.

"When was the last time you saw Black?" Mrs. Bones asked curiously.

"The last time I saw Sirius was when this Ministry took him away from me over twelve years ago and threw him in Azkaban without a trial or investigation, might I add that is illegal, but this Ministry did it anyway. Keep following Cornelius and you'll find out how bad he really is, or you'll mold to his way of thinking." Marie said angrily as she stressed Sirius slightly and glared at Mrs. Bones again.

"Why wouldn't Black go to you for assistance after his escape?" Mrs. Bones asked curiously as she leaned up on the table propping herself up on her hands as she leaned across to get in Marie's face.

"Probably because this Ministry gave us the same training as Aurors. I'm always going to be target number one on the Ministry's list to find Sirius. He's not as stupid as you lot think he is." Marie said with a smirk as she just watched Mrs. Bones eyebrows furrow.

"You sound as if you know him very well. How would you know how smart he is at this moment?" Mrs. Bones asked irritated that so far, she had gotten no information out of the woman.

"We grew up together through Hogwarts, we dated, we were engaged of course I know him very well woman. And he got out of Azkaban didn't he, he's stayed out of your grasp hasn't he? That makes him smarter than this Ministry any day of the week." Marie said proudly as she smirked again at Mrs. Bones standing up so that the two were mere inches from each other's faces.

"You are giving him aid and when I find that you have been lying, I will throw you in Azkaban with him Miss Willis." Mrs. Bones said, irritated, as she waved her hand at the door for the guard to come in and escort Marie out of the building.

"Good luck with that!" Marie said with a wink just before she walked over to the man who had opened the door for her. He had gone through her bag while they were talking, and she now yanked it from him. "Thank you!" she said then walked out with the other guard to leave.

"She must be aiding him; I'd bet my job on it. Keep eyes on her home, work, shopping, everything!" Mrs. Bones said, irritated, as she stood up to leave the room.

"Why not keep her locked up if she's helping him, he'll come for her." The auror beside her said as they left the room.

"She's an ex-Auror she knows the laws and her rights just like we know them. If we keep her, it will just blow up in our faces, you've not dealt with her over the past twelve years, but I have. She has us backed into a corner until we have proof." Mrs. Bones said with a sigh as she watched Marie disappear once she reached the lobby.

~*~*~*~ At home ~*~*~*~

Sirius was pacing the floor. Marie should have been home before him she had taken a more direct route to get here, whereas Sirius had to walk three miles to get back into the house. But Marie wasn't here, and it looked as if no one had been here in two weeks. Charms went off alerting him that someone was approaching the house and he drew his wand and made his way to the window just barely peeking out through the drawn blinds.

Marie was walking up the drive and she caught a glimpse of movement in the shadows across from the house, in the old, abandoned barn of a farm that had long since been abandoned and it was actually starting to fall down. 'So that's where they've been hiding outside of my enchantments.' Marie thought as she saw another quick movement at the dilapidated farmhouse by the old barn.

Marie made it through the gate, then up the porch and she opened her door and finally walked into her home. She had just passed through the doorway into the house looking around curiously, nothing looked to be touched, she assumed that Sirius was still hidden in the passageway awaiting her to get home when the door slammed shut behind her. And she jumped spinning around drawing her wand in a heartbeat looking at Sirius as he pointed his wand at her. "What are you doing? You nearly scared the life out of me." she questioned curiously as she watched him noticing he was not putting his wand away but kept it pointed at her.

"What was our first date?" Sirius asked suspiciously, there was no reason for Marie to have taken so long to get back unless the Ministry hoped to trick him into revealing himself to them.

"That's stupid Sirius." Marie said softly as she lowered her wand slightly pulling herself up out of her crouch.

"What was our first date?" Sirius repeated more forcefully as he glared at her.

This was something of Deja vu to Marie, Remus had attacked her from behind a door he had slammed shut. Could this be Remus trying to force her hand to reveal Sirius? She brought her wand back up ready to defend herself. "I'll only answer you if you can tell me what colors my wedding dress was supposed to be." Marie countered angrily she had convinced herself this was a set up by Remus.

"White and red." Sirius said and watched Marie relax again only Sirius had ever seen that dress she hadn't even had a chance to show it to Lily who was to be her Matron of Honor.

"After James and Lily were married at their reception you asked me out. We left the reception and spent the night staring up at the stars talking about our lives, dreams, and families." Marie said and watched his wand hand drop that was what he considered their first date though he told the others it was a dinner and a stroll in the park. "What's this all about Sirius?" she asked irritated as she put her hands on her hips.

"Where were you? You should have beaten me home by at the very least a half an hour." Sirius said confused he had been sure that this was a Ministry set up.

"The Ministry took me in for questioning. Our absence from society has them on edge. Amelia Bones is sure I'm giving you aid and hiding you from them." Marie said as she put her wand away again, looking at him with a frown as he walked over to her.

"I've put you in danger." Sirius said sadly as he stopped right in front of her.

"Dear sweet husband stop worrying so much. School starts back this week which means the Hogwarts students will be in Diagon Alley." Marie said as she wrapped her arms around him and smiled up at him happily.

"I've got to leave before they throw you in Azkaban for harboring a known criminal." Sirius said as he tried to pry her off of him intent on getting as far away from her as possible.

"Sirius Black you listen to me!" Marie said she was irritated with him again. "Once we get you close to Hogwarts so you can get that bloody rat Peter then you can stay on your own until that point in time you will remain with me." She said putting her hands on her hips again like she was scolding a child.

"Marie Black stop arguing with me. I'm trying to protect you." Sirius said irritated with her as well as he frowned at her and crossed his arms.

"I'm trying to protect you, put your male ego to the side for a moment and listen. They can't get to you here without my enchantments going off and warning us. If you leave you will be without all this, you will be back to sleeping on the ground, not just that you will be fending for yourself for food and protecting yourself while you sleep, because you are wanted. You can wait until we get you to Hogsmeade undetected before you begin your life as a criminal on the run trying to survive." Marie said as she stared up at him hoping that he would understand her arguments.

"I can't let them get you Marie, I must protect you." Sirius said softly as he pulled her into a hug.

"They can't prove anything Sirius, they haven't caught the two of us together and they can't get in here. Trust me let me protect you just a little longer." Marie begged as she held him tight, unwilling to let him go.

"Fine, but tomorrow I find a place in Hogsmeade to hide." Sirius said with a sigh, giving up the fight with her.

"Fine, the kids head back to school at the end of the week on the Hogwarts Express and school starts the next Monday. The train and stations will be extremely guarded, I'm sure they are going to have guards around Hogwarts itself this year too. Dumbledore's not entirely stupid he will be trying to protect Harry from you." Marie said as she looked up at him with a worried look.

"I'm Harry's Godfather I wouldn't hurt him." Sirius said as he pulled back to look down at Marie.

"I know that you know that, and James knew that. But Dumbledore thinks you were their Secret Keeper remember." Marie said sadly as she looked up at Sirius.

"Damn this double bluff of mine just keeps biting me in the ass." Sirius said with a frown as he turned and started up the stairs.

"Sirius be careful around Hogwarts; Dumbledore is there along with Severus and Remus." Marie said, following him up the stairs.

"Snivilious is there too?" Sirius asked curiously as he turned to look back at her.

"Oh yes, Severus is there. He teaches Potions." Marie said as she followed him the rest of the way up the stairs and into their room. "Oh, wait I didn't recheck the enchantments." she said and stepped back out of the room resealing the door with a wave of her wand then she rechecked the rest of the enchantments curiously. It seems the only ones that had tripped were those done by her coming up the drive.

"How is that Death Eater teaching at Hogwarts?" Sirius asked irritated as he took off his clothes and laid down on the bed. He had filled out while on their holiday since Marie was making sure he ate three times a day. He was still thin compared to his youth but seemed a lot healthier to her now, she could see less of his bones since he had started to fill back out.

"Dumbledore protects him." Marie said as she walked around the bed getting ready to lay down herself.

"Protects him, what did that slimy git do to deserve protection from Dumbledore?" Sirius asked as he slid under the covers wearing only his boxers.

"Beats me, apparently just before the fall of Voldemort Severus changed sides, seeing the errors of his ways and all." Marie said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes.

"And I'm a horse's ass." Sirius said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes too.

"You my dear are anything but." Marie said softly as she moved over to lay against him wrapping an arm across chest and a leg in between his legs. "But it amazes me that after all our years of loyal service Dumbledore protects that Death Eater but refuses to acknowledge the slightest chance you are innocent." she said angrily as she hugged him tightly.

Sirius could feel warm liquid on his on his arm and he glanced over at Marie. "It's alright Marie, we'll get Peter and I'll never leave again." Sirius said as he pulled her closer to him in a comforting hug then leaned down and kissed her head.

"You don't understand... I hate him...so much..." Marie said as she continued to cry against him.

"Oh, Marie. He didn't have all the facts. These events are my fault, no one else's. I should have just accepted the role of secret keeper when James asked." Sirius said as he rolled over to hold her with both arms. It was breaking his heart to hear her cry like this, she was always so strong and hardheaded seeing this side of her just tore him to pieces.

"I can't lose you again Sirius." Marie said as she cried.

"I know. Things will be different this time. I promise." Sirius said as he laid his head up against the top of hers and held her until she fell asleep.

~*~*~*~ The Next Morning ~*~*~*~

Marie grabbed one of her enchanted small bags and packed it full of a couple of changes of clothes, a pillow and set of blankets that he could keep with him. She also put in the bag food that wouldn't expire quickly so he had food to eat when he couldn't get down to the village to scrounge. She had plans on taking him up to the mountains around Hogsmeade where there were several caves he could switch between once he got the lay of the land again.

"Marie I can't carry all that around. I'm going to be a dog remember?" Sirius said as he shook his head at his wife like she was crazy.

"It's small enough bag you can carry it in your mouth if you need to move to a new area. At least you will have this as a backup if nothing else. I expect you to keep eating and getting plenty of rest in between your attempts to get Peter. You're still not back up to your normal weight." Marie said with a quick smile over at him.

"If we can't get him this year you've got to get out of the country before June." Sirius said worried as he made her stand up to face him. "You cannot go to Azkaban." he said as he pulled her into a hug and laid his head down on top of hers.

"We'll get him don't worry so much." Marie said as she hugged him comfortingly, enjoying his embrace, knowing it was going to be a while before they would be this close again. "If you need anything let me know alright and I'll get it to you somehow." she said softly as she laid her head against his chest.

"I can fend for myself you know I'm not entirely useless." Sirius said with a frown as he looked down at her in his arms.

"I never said you were dear. I'm not on the run from the Ministry and can get things that you can't." Marie said with a soft giggle as she looked up at him. "Come on let's get you set up, meet you at the shrieking shack." she said as she pulled back from him.

"Right, I love you be careful." Sirius said as he leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips then he walked down the hall and into the small bathroom there to leave.

"I love you too dear, you be careful." Marie said with a small wave. Once he was out of sight, she waited a few moments then left the house as well but she left through the front door. Once she was outside of the enchantments and out of sight of the old man's house, she disapperated and appeared in front of the Three Broomsticks. She walked in and found Madam Rosmerta and walked over to her. "I'm sorry I was gone so long do you still need me?" she asked tentatively wondering if her absence had caused a huge trouble for the tavern owner.

"Nonsense dear. I know you never take days off. I've never seen you take a holiday dear; besides, we were slow while you were gone. The students return this week and as you know that means not much longer until they get their breaks down here in the village for the third years and up. I'll have a schedule for you tonight be here at five for work." Madam Rosmerta said with a bright smile at one of her hardest workers, Marie was pleasant, good with customers, and easy on the eyes as the men say. She couldn't afford to lose such a customer magnet. The tavern seemed to do really well when Marie was here whether her job was bar tender or waitress that day.

"Great I'll be here." Marie said pleasantly as she shook hands with her boss then left the tavern once in the lane, she turned on the spot and was gone. She appeared in the Shrieking Shack looking around curiously the dust and cobwebs told her no one used this place since Remus had left the Village after James' and Lily's death. "Spsss Sirius..." She said softly looking around curiously and she heard a small growl to her left.

"Damn it's too dark..." Marie whispered as she turned and stumbled into an end table, she lit her wand to see Sirius watching her from a chair over by the fireplace. "Really? Come on." She said and laughed as she shook her head at him.

Sirius huffed and clouds of dust flew everywhere causing him to sneeze. "Serves you right." He heard Marie say and laugh at him and he growled again as he got off the surprisingly comfortable chair and made his way towards a hole in the back wall just big enough for him to squeeze through.

Marie followed him extinguishing her wand light and transforming into her owl form then slipped out of the building as well. She fluttered forward to land beside him looking up at the mountain that overlooked Hogsmeade and Hogwarts and hooted softly.

Sirius looked at her gaining her attention then growled softly using his head. He pointed her in the direction he wanted to go where he knew some caves were from when they used to roam around on the full moon so long ago.

Marie hooted her acknowledgment then took flight looking back as Sirius she saw he was keeping up with her at a fast run on the forest floor. She enjoyed flying like this unaided by a magical object or other animal and she twisted in air doing a barrel roll around several limbs.

Sirius barked at her a couple of times. She was being reckless from his point of view beside she was starting to get away from him. He watched as she landed on a tree limb waiting for him to catch up again. Once he had she hooted at him slightly irritated then took flight again at a much slower pace to let him keep up.

They made it up the mountain about halfway in no time, Marie slipped into a nice size cave and transformed into her human form after making sure there was no way anyone could see them and that the cave was empty. Sirius joined her a few moments later walking over to her with a frown on his face.

"That was reckless, and you know it." Sirius said putting his stuff down behind a pile of rocks she was now sitting on.

"You're just being a sour puss; how often do I get to fly anymore?" Marie said as she frowned at him too.

"And what would have happened if you had hurt yourself? Hum it's not like I can just waltz into St. Mungo's with you and tell them you flew into a tree limb." Sirius said as he walked over in front of her and slipped in between her legs crowding her space so she had to lean back slightly to look up at him.

"I was fine I know what I'm doing." Marie said as she looked up at him placing her hands on his hips with a sweet smile on her lips.

"I'm never going to win against you, am I?" Sirius asked as he shook his head at her then pulled her closer against him.

"See I can teach an old dog new tricks." Marie said and laughed lightly as she wrapped her arms around behind him to make it to where he couldn't' back away unless he wanted to drag her from her perch.

"Marie, I'm not just a dog." Sirius said as he leaned forward, forcing her to lay back enough to where their faces were just an inch from each other.

"You are so much more." Marie said then suddenly leaned up and kissed him most passionately.

"I'll leave a newspaper wrapping up food by the trash every night I close at least that way you'll have a paper and food for that day." Marie said after a couple of hours in the cave before she left to go home so she could shower, change, and get back to the Three Broomsticks by five. They both understood that after today it would be unsafe for her to go traipsing around the mountain after him and it would be easier for him to come down into the village for food and news once a day.